Late filmmaker Yash Chopra’s last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan has got mostly positive reviews from critics, with only a few panning it. The love story, starring Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma has charmed most people. The film is also being appreciated for the way it’s been shot. Fans of Shahrukh are welcoming his return to romantic form. And his leading ladies Katrina and Anushka are both looking hot in the film. However, some audience members are finding Jab Tak Hai Jaan slow and long. Read BollywoodLife’s review of Jab Tak Hai Jaan here!

Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha’s Son Of Sardaar is being seen as a total masala entertainer, but which shall be a hit thanks to its mass appeal. Read BollywoodLife’s review of Son Of Sardaar here!

Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son Of Sardaar opened together on Diwali day and both have managed a grand opening. Trade pundit predicts that the movies’ box office collection will cross Rs 100 crore mark.

Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif starrer JTHJ was released on 2,500 screens and it has reportedly collected Rs 15.23 crore all over India. The Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt starrer SOS collected Rs 10.72 crore from 2,000 screens in the country.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says it is the “best Diwali for Bollywood”. “In mass circuits, SOS is ahead and at multiplexes, JTHJ takes a lead. As per early trends, JTHJ is ahead of SOS in India. But, both are winners at the box-office. This is the biggest and best Diwali for Bollywood. The business of JTHJ and SOS will be the biggest ever,” he tweeted.

Rajesh Thadani, Multimedia Combines, Mumbai said, “Son Of Sardaar is doing well in single screens and Jab Tak Hai Jaan is doing well in multiplexes. Looking at the reports, I am sure SOS will pick up and do well in a couple of days,” he added.

There has been a lot of pre-release buzz around both JTHJ and SOS. Plus they have the advantage of festive occasion and extended weekend to mint more money.

Anant Verma, director and business head of DT Cinemas said: “Both the films have opened well with almost equal occupancy at our cinemas. We gave equal capacity and almost same number of shows to both. We are looking at a decent occupancy till Sunday. Friday morning shows will dip a little, but overall till Sunday all cinemas will do well. Families, youngsters and couples are coming to watch SOS and JTHJ.”

Produced by Aditya Chopra, late filmmakers Yash Chopra’s last directorial JTHJ has reportedly been made at a budget of Rs 50 crore, while director Ashwni Dhir’s SOS said to be costlier with Rs 80 crore expenses.

If mindless entertainment is what you are seeking this Diwali then Ashwni Dhir’s Son Of Sardaar-starring Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha-is the perfect pick. So keep both your snobbish taste and your common sense aside to enjoy this extremely predictable, over-the-top filmy and sporadically entertaining drama. What makes Son Of Sardaar worth a watch is the simplicity of its narration, its inherently nonsense humour and its quirky characters who know where to draw the line. Add to this the much-needed tadka of some larger-than-life action sequences coupled with fine camera work and snappy editing and the movie holds your attention, even if it does so in parts.

So you have Jassi Randhawa a happy-go-lucky young Sardaar (Ajay Devgn) who has no idea whatsoever about his family’s action-filled murky past and the legendary feud between his family, Randhawas and the archrivals Sandhus. It is only when his colleague discloses certain secrets that Jassi learns about his family and about his ancestral property at his native place in Punjab. He decides to go the village. On his journey, Jassi bumps into Sukh ( Sonakshi Sinha) and both fall in love with each other, but neither confesses their true feelings. Once landed in his Village, Jassi realises that Sukh belongs to the Sandhus’ family headed by the mighty Ranvijay Singh ( Sanjay Dutt). Things become worse when both Jassi and Ranvijay know that they are enemies because of that infamous bloody saga that took place 25 years ago.

Ranvijay is now thirsty for Jassi’s blood,but can’t kill him so long as Jassi remains his guest. (Atithi Devo Bhav, you see!) Even Jassi knows that the moment he steps out of Ranvijay’s house he will be chopped into pieces by his otherwise warm, welcoming and large-hearted host. If one tries every trick in the book to stay inside the house, the other uses every possible strategy to drive the young Sardaar out. Son Of Sardaar is the tale of who outwits the other and how. Will Jassi win Ranvijay over with his values, his might and his honesty to marry the mundi ( Sonakshi) from the house, and most importantly to escape from the almost certain clutches of death.

It’s a no brainer to guess what conclusion can one expect of this typical churn-off-the-mill-looking entertainer. But Son Of Sardaar has its moments mainly because of the characters involved who give their best to make this ordinary tale look impressive. Ajay Devgn portrays the vulnerable and ready to fight-if-instigated Sardaar really well. Sanjay Dutt’s comic timing and his personality stay with you even hours after you leave the theatre. Sonakshi Sinha is impressive and looks an authentic Panjabi mundi. A special mention here for Juhi Chawla, Mukul Dev and Vindu Dara Singh who hold your attention with their antics. Sajid Wajid’s music is melodious, but far from impressive.

Over all, Son Of Sardaar revels gleefully in its silliness.Watch it, if you will, for the comical sketches of its characters, some gravity-defying-fights and most importantly for its genuine intention to entertain!